Fugitive Sought In Riverside County Killing Found In NorCal

Temecula CA

01 December, 2021

1:35 PM

Description

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A fugitive sought in connection with a Riverside County killing earlier this year has been found and arrested in Placer County, law enforcement announced Wednesday. Benjamin Franklin Winkle, 36, was booked into a Placer County jail Sunday at 9:59 a.m., according to jail records. He was found in Northern California after his arrest by Placer County deputies on suspicion of an unrelated crime. It was discovered that he had a warrant out for his arrest stemming from a Riverside County homicide investigation. Winkle had been identified by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department as the suspect in a slaying that was discovered around 4:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at a residence in the 61200 block of Indian Paint Brush Road in Anza. Michael Mendoza, 37, was found dead at the home by Riverside County deputies, a victim of an assault with a deadly weapon, the sheriff's department said. The type of weapon used was not disclosed. "Winkle fled the location before the arrival of deputies and is being sought for his involvement in the incident," the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said at the time. "Investigators are following up on active leads regarding Winkle's whereabouts." It's not clear how or why local investigators identified Winkle as a suspect in the killing, and no possible motive was provided. Winkle will be extradited to Riverside County where he will face a murder charge, according to local law enforcement. He is currently being held without bail, according to Placer County jail records. A wanted poster issued after the October 2021 slaying in Anza.